Ian Walker to be new Qld arts minister

Ian Walker would not comment on whether he believed Ros Bates had cast a shadow on the department. Photo: Glenn Hunt

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has nominated Ian Walker to be the new science, innovation, IT and arts minister.

Ros Bates resigned from the portfolio on Friday for health and family reasons.

For months she had been plagued by nepotism scandals and inaccuracies on her lobbyist register.

She’d also taken extended time off for sick and recreational leave.

Mr Newman said Mr Walker was a top performer and had narrowly missed out on becoming the Housing and Public Works minister last year following Bruce Flegg’s resignation.

“It was neck and neck last time,” Mr Newman said.

“This is all about merit, and he’s made it today.”

Mr Walker, the MP for Mansfield, would not comment on whether he believed Ms Bates had cast a shadow on the department and said he was looking forward to getting to work.

“I’m looking forward to getting into this department, which I really think has the prospect of being a real power driver for the government,” he said.

“A place where innovation, new thought, creativity, where looking forward is part of the agencies that form the department.”

Mr Walker had been the assistant minister for planning reform.

Southport MP Rob Molhoek would take over that position and first time MP Tarnya Smith, a junior whip, would take over as assistant minister for child safety.

Mr Newman will take his nominations to the governor.

‘Media was used’

Liberal National Party defector Alex Douglas says the media was used in a calculating way to remove Ms Bates.

On Saturday morning, it was revealed that Ms Bates had appointed her close friend Kaye Martin to a department contract and a board position with Screen Queensland.

Independent MP Dr Douglas said on Sunday the public should be asking why the government dropped such a damning story to the paper a day after Ms Bates’ resignation.

“I think the story is very hollow and doesn’t ring true,” he told ABC radio.

“And I believe if that is the sort of nonsense that’s going to peddled, it’s as bad as what they did to Ros Bates over the last three months and left her out there and hung her to dry until it suited them.

“It is a shameful way to run a government and it is certainly not the way to treat people.”

Acting arts minister John-Paul Langbroek says Ms Bates’ resignation and the fresh allegations are not linked, and Ms Bates resigned for health and family reasons.

The story regarding Ms Martin was released in a bid to be open and accountable when the government became aware of the conflict of interest, he said.